2010 Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG: Interior Revealed

Now we know what's inside those gullwing doors of Mercedes' new supercar.

As part of the slow tease in the introduction of the 2010 Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG in advance of this fall's Frankfurt Motor Show, the German automaker has released official photos of the 2-seat supercar's interior.

Although the exterior of the car is inspired by the legendary SL300 Gullwing of the 1950s, the new SLS AMG has taken a more modern approach to the cabin, taking cues instead from corporate jets. What it does owe to the original Gullwing is the simplicity of the overall layout. There is a binnacle in front of the driver and simple controls and clean surfaces on the center console and the dash in front of the passenger. All the surfaces from the seats to the dash are clad in leather.

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The aviation influences are readily seen in the air vents, which resembles the nacelles of jet engines, and the console-mounted shift lever for the 7-speed dual clutch transmission, which resembles an aircraft's throttle. Auxiliary switches that allow the driver to select the modes of operation for the gearbox and stability control systems flank the shifter. In the center of the dash is an LCD screen, which duplicates the so-called "glass cockpit" of modern jets.

This SLS is the first ground-up car design for Mercedes by its AMG unit. The front mid-engine design features a 6.2-liter normally aspirated V-8 producing 571 bhp and 480 lb.- ft. of torque delivered to the rear-mounted transaxle. Expect the SLS to cost in excess of $200,000 when it goes on sale next spring.